Restaurant Liability
Georgia restaurants have a legal obligation to keep their properties safe for patrons. From the parking lot to the actual dining area, they have a duty to use reasonable care in protecting diners from hazards. If you have been hurt on the property of a restaurant, you may be entitled to compensation for your harm. At Miller Legal Services, our premises liability lawyers can offer knowledgeable representation to Marietta residents and others who have been injured on commercial property. These cases can be quite complex, and the guidance of a legal professional can make a significant difference.
Holding a Negligent Restaurant Accountable for Your InjuriesThere are a number of ways that patrons may be hurt at restaurants. Common examples of these situations include slip and fall accidents caused by wet floors, uneven pavement, or broken stairs. Restaurant staff also may drop hot food or sharp objects in unexpected areas where customers often are found.
If an individual has been hurt on the premises of a restaurant, he or she may have a legal claim under a theory of premises liability. According to Georgia law, property owners owe differing degrees of care to people entering their land. Visitors are classified into three categories: invitees, licensees, and trespassers. Invitees are individuals who enter the land for commercial reasons, such as restaurant patrons, and they are owed the highest duty of care. As a result, restaurant owners are legally obligated to carry out regular inspections to ensure there are no defective or dangerous conditions present on their property.
An injured patron can typically seek damages from the restaurant owner through a negligence claim. Broadly defined, negligence is the failure to adhere to the level of care that would be appropriate in a certain situation. A restaurant owner violates the duty of care owed to a patron when its property contains a dangerous condition, the owner knew or should have known about the hazard, the property owner failed to fix the dangerous condition or warn the patron of its existence, and this situation resulted in the accident. All of these elements must be present to establish negligence.
Once an accident victim has established the elements of a negligence claim, he or she may be entitled to recover a range of damages like medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, lost wages and benefits, loss of earning capacity, and pain and suffering. In order to assert the right to compensation, it is critical to act promptly. Georgia has a specific time window within which a personal injury claim may be filed, known as the statute of limitations. Legal action generally must be taken within this period to avoid having the case dismissed on procedural grounds.
Consult a Marietta Lawyer for Guidance with Your Premises Liability CaseIf you or someone close to you has been injured in a slip and fall in the Marietta area, you should contact an attorney who can assess the merits of your potential claim. At Miller Legal Services, we have years of experience providing representation to accident victims. We can explore the details of your situation and come up with a legal strategy accordingly. Our firm proudly represent individuals from communities in many areas of Georgia, including Roswell and Smyrna. For a free initial consultation, you can call us at 770-284-3727 or contact us online.